CHAP. 68. increased, and he scarcely ventured to execute 1774-1777, the slightest public act without the approbation

of his colleagues. The same motives induced
him to extort from the king a reluctant consent
for the admission of the prince of Asturias into
the cabinet council, with the hope of diminishing
the popular odium, and his own responsibility.
But this very expedient increased his mortifica-
tions. The prince, instigated by the adherents
of d'Aranda, who formed a powerful body under
the denomination of the aragonese party, became
a vehement opponent of the minister, in all the
private deliberations of the cabinet. This
This oppo-
sition was inflamed and directed by d'Aranda,
whose influence had been displayed by the intro-
duction of his relative, count Ricla, into the
ministry of war, on the death of Don Gregorio
Muñiain. Lastly, Grimaldi suffered a severe
shock by the desertion of his friend the count of
Fuentes, who was offended by the permission
given, without his knowledge, to his son, prince
Pignatelli, to accompany the fatal expedition to
the coast of Africa. On his death, his numerous
family and adherents swelled the aragonese party,
and the court of the prince.

Thus circumstanced, without a friend or confidant, thwarted by his colleagues in office, deprived of his long established influence at Versailles, embarrassed abroad, and opposed in the cabinet,

Grimaldi at length extorted the reluctant consent CHAP. 68. of the king to his resignation. He still, however, 1774-1777. possessed sufficient credit to baffle the hopes of d'Aranda to return to office; for the king, dreading the violent spirit of the ex-minister, and offended by the interference of the prince, left to Grimaldi the choice of his successor. By the advice of his first secretary, del Campo, he recommended Don Joseph Moñino, rccently created count Florida Blanca, who filled the spanish embassy at Rome. The nomination was accepted, to the mortification of Grimaldi's numerous opponents, and he was himself chosen to supply the vacant embassy. Though impatient to retire, he continued to execute his office till the arrival of the new minister. After introducing him to the business of his department, and accompanying him on his first appearance in the closet, he took a hasty leave of a court where he had figured for a period of seventeen years. The parting was short and affectionate; the king assured him of the continuance of his esteem, and testified his intention to consult him on important occasions. The following morning he withdrew from the capital, and having spent a short period with his family, repaired to Rome. After his departure, the king rewarded his merits and services, by granting the rank of duke and grandee to himself and his family. Few words

CHAP. 68. are necessary to sum up this account of Grimaldi. 1774-1777. Though exposed to odium as a foreigner, he was esteemed by the liberal part of the spanish nation for his mildness and urbanity; his love and patronage of literature and the arts, and his zeal for the national improvement.

The new minister, Don Joseph Moñino, was a native of the petty village of Hellin, in Murcia, and the son of an escribano episcopal. Attaching himself to the study of the law, he became a pleading advocate, and was brought into notice by the powerful family of Ossuna, to whom he was recommended by father Patrick Curtis, their domestic chaplain and preceptor. By their interest, he was nominated one of the fiscals of the council of Castile, and distinguished himself under the administration of d'Aranda. His conciliating character and agreeable address, joined to a knowledge of ecclesiastical business, and superior talents, occasioned his nomination to the embassy of Rome, a post of the utmost importance. He fulfilled the hopes and views of his employers, by acquiring considerable influence at the papal court, and contributing to the nomination of Pius the sixth, in opposition to the intrigues of the jesuit party. He promoted the reconciliation between the roman see and the bourbon courts, after the dispute occasioned by the interdict against Parma, obtained the

formal abolition of the jesuits, and arranged CHAP. 68. various negotiations relative to the interests of 1774-1777. the House of Bourbon in general, and those of

Spain in particular.

Florida Blanca was scarcely less astonished at his own elevation, than those who had been eagerly grasping at the reins of government. Unconnected with any party, and imperfectly known even to the king, he entered on his office with a diffidence and reserve natural to the novelty of his situation. But he speedily acquired confidence and decision, conciliated the good will of the king, and displayed an energy of character and capacity for business, which fully justified the recommendation of his predecessor.*

* We have derived our inteiligence relative to the ministry and resignation of Grimaldi, and the appointment of Florida Blanca, from oral information of the most respectable kind, from the interesting dispatches of lord Grantham, and official documents from Madrid, London, and Paris. Some incidents are also drawn from Cumberland's Memoirs, and Townshend's Travels in Spain.

CHAP. 69.

CHAPTER THE SIXTY-NINTH.

1775-1778.

Renewal of hostilities with Portugal, relative to the settlements in South America-Capture of the isle of St. Catherine and the colony of Sacramento-Death of Joseph the first, king of Portugal, and removal of Pombal-Accommodation with Portugal by the intervention of the queen mother-Treaties of limits, commerce, and amity-Remarks of Florida Blanca on the advantages of this accommodation.

THE first measure of the new minister, Florida 1775-1778. Blanca, was the presage of a successful adminis

tration.

Spain had no sooner terminated the enterprise against the Barbary states, and concluded a temporary accommodation with the emperor of Morocco, than her attention was again directed to Portugal. Preceding events have sufficiently shewn, that no treaty between the two powers could prove lasting, while the vicinity of their settlements on the Rio de la Plata furnished inexhaustible fuel to their commercial and political jealousy. The forced accommodation, recently concluded, was, like the past, nothing more than a suspension of arms, and an additional cause of irritation. Spain endeavoured to